by Kenneth Woods | Aug 27, 2010 | Music and Media
I don’t know if I can say this definitively, but as far as I know, Vftp is the oldest conductor’s blog still going, and when I first started I couldn’t find any examples of other substantial blogging projects by any other conductors. While it’s nice to be first, we...
by Kenneth Woods | Aug 26, 2010 | Nuts and bolts
A while back, I started a little series here called Urtext Myths (part I here, part II here). While preparing for my recent performance of Mahler’s 5th Symphony at the Harlech Orchestral Summer School, I came across something in the Preface that got me thinking about...
by Kenneth Woods | Aug 20, 2010 | News and Reviews
The Daily Mail 20 August 2010 GAL: VIOLIN CONCERTOS, ETC. (AVIE AV 2146) HANS GAL’S Violin Concerto, written in 1931-32, when he was head of the conservatory in Mainz, is beautifully performed by young German soloist Annette-Barbara Vogel. By the time Gal wrote his...
by Kenneth Woods | Aug 20, 2010 | A view from the podium, Favorite posts
Olin Downes, New York Times “Which composers have influenced you most?” Leos Janacek “None.” Last week, I had the good fortune and privilege to conduct a workshop of Janacek’s Taras Bulba. Since so much of Janacek’s life’s work is bound up in his operas, there...
by Kenneth Woods | Aug 16, 2010 | Mahler, Mahler- Performer's Perspective
“The donkey found it pleasing, and only said Wait! Wait! Wait! I will announce my judgement now. Well have you sung, Nightingale! But, Cuckoo, you sing a good chorale!” On Friday, the intrepid musicians of the Harlech Orchestral Academy performed Mahler’s Fifth...
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